Marcus Smart Labels Lakers’ Overtime Victory Over Nuggets a ‘Playoff-Type’ Battle
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The Los Angeles Lakers treated their final 2025-26 regular-season meeting with the Denver Nuggets like a postseason showdown, and guard Marcus Smart said the atmosphere felt exactly that way.
Heading into the Feb. 25 contest at Crypto.com Arena, the clubs were tied 1-1 in the season series, making the game decisive for the head-to-head tiebreaker in the Western Conference standings. Los Angeles built a double-digit advantage early, saw Denver surge back in the second half, then prevailed 128-126 in overtime.
Key moments
• Austin Reaves intentionally missed a free throw, retrieved the rebound and banked in a floater with 0.8 seconds left in regulation to force the extra period.
• Luka Doncic sealed the win by sinking a step-back jumper with 3.4 seconds remaining in OT.
Smart’s impact
Smart filled the box score with 21 points, three rebounds, two assists, five steals and one block. Afterward, he described the night as “playoff-type games,” stressing that it required a collective effort to overcome a contender such as Denver.
“It felt good for my teammates to believe in me,” Smart said, noting he had missed similar shots against the Nuggets two weeks earlier. “It speaks to how willing we are to trust each other.”
Building momentum
The victory, which head coach Darvin Ham called the team’s most complete performance of the season, pushed Los Angeles closer to the top of the conference. The Lakers have several more high-stakes matchups on the horizon, a stretch Smart said will continue to mimic playoff intensity.
Reaves credits Smart and Hayes
Reaves praised Smart and reserve center Jaxson Hayes for the energy they supplied on both ends of the floor, calling their effort “contagious” throughout the locker room.
The Lakers return to action Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns, the first of four games in six days.
Source: Lakers Nation
